Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/cy/request/njc_5_workstreams_16?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow on December 19, 2018 10:03

I would be grateful if you will provide answers to the following questions

1. Please state which of the above (if any) has your FRS undertaken in trials
2. Please state the start and end dates of each trial
3. Please state the estimated numbers of staff involved
4. Please state which sites were involved (ie fire stations)
5. Please provide copies of any significant operational lessons learned
6. Please provide copies of clinical outcomes achieved
7. Please explain what funding was used to undertake the trials
8. Please explain what if any income was raised as a result of the trials
9. Please provide information regarding any injuries or near misses that were recorded as a result of the work undertaken.
10. What specific additional training was given as part of the workstream trial.

Please note, from 01/04/2016 Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service combined to form Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. Therefore, this acknowledgement is sent in response to both requests that you sent to each Service and I will respond to you with the information requested in one email on behalf of both legacy Services.

Thank you for your request for information regarding the NJC workstreams. We received your request on 22/09/2017 and we are dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We will supply you with our findings on or before 20/10/2017.

If you have any queries regarding this request, please contact me directly, quoting the reference number above.

· Tetra pager signal strength is poor and limited within
buildings, co-responders have to leave pagers in specific positions when
inside buildings to get a suitable signal and may need to go outside to be
able to send messages.

· The ability to update FRS crewing systems with staff who are
responding has not yet been developed.

· SAT NAV ability needs improving as locating addresses at night
in rural areas with a house name and postcode is difficult a more suitable
system directly mobilised from SWAST control is required.

· The information received via the Tetra pagers is not always
accurate with regard to the patient’s condition.

· A request for our response indicates the need for our resource
and no parameters on time or distance should be applied. If we are called
it is because we are the nearest most suitable resource for that case.

· Due to volumes of calls, co-responders do not always have a
backup allocated or the backup can be a significant time away. An improved
responder desk at SWAST has assisted in obtaining back up response times
or contact with a clinical supervisor at SWAST control.

· Manual equipment was supplied by SWAST for taking Blood
Pressures which a number of staff found difficult to manage, we would
prefer automatic Blood Pressure machines. (Not best practice for SWAST)

6. Please provide copies of clinical outcomes achieved

· Due to patient confidentiality, limited feedback is received on
patient outcomes, although nearly every call attended promotes reassurance
for the patient that help is with them. Early assessment assists with
updates to SWAST on patient condition for their response plan.

· The early attendance of a co-responder crew to commence CPR has
resulted in better outcomes had a co-responder not been available. This
include the ability of co-responders to use ERD skills to reach patients
in a shorter time than community co-responders.

· On a number of occasions the administering of Oxygen at an early
stage provided benefit to the patient’s condition.

7. Please explain what funding was used to undertake the trials

£60 per call from SWAST. Service planned on a cost neutral scheme. Ex
Officers cars were used with minimal sign writing at £40.00 per vehicle.
Training of staff was in Casualty Care was part of all Firefighters
development, with additional training given by SWAST on additional items
that were supplied.

8. Please explain what if any income was raised as a result of the
trials

Cost recovery only, Initially any response made within 3 miles of the
pager within 8 minutes, received the payment agreed, this was then adapted
to include a second hour when the co-responders were not backed up after
an hour at scene. SWAST covered initial costs of training, inoculations
and supplied uniform. Vehicles provided by DW along with running costs. No
driver training costs have been included as a result of drivers needing to
have additional training to drive cars on ERD.

9. Please provide information regarding any injuries or near
misses that were recorded as a result of the work undertaken.

None recorded or aware of. Staff welfare and counselling promoted but due
to confidentiality unaware of uptake. We initially organised a 3 monthly
group welfare at each co-responding station, this was then amended and
staff on each station would monitor their colleagues, as they felt the 3
monthly visits did not provide any benefit.

10. What specific additional training was given as part of the
workstream trial.

· 8 hours Frontline experience with ambulance service as third
person on Ambulance

· Tetra pager training

· Response car driving (Not undertaken initially only now being
made available)

I trust this answers your queries, however, if you are unhappy with the
service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a
complaint or request a review of the decision, you should write to the
Information Management Team, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service,
Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre, Hulse Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
SP1 3NR within 40 working days of receipt of the original decision.
Alternatively you can email [1][Wiltshire Fire and Rescue request email] .

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
Generally the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
complaints procedure at the Fire Authority. The Information Commissioner
can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Tel: 08456 30 60 60

01625 54 57 45

[2]www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Gemma

Gemma Wise

Information Compliance Officer

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre

Hulse Road | Salisbury | SP1 3NR

Tel: 01722 691084

dwfire.org.uk

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